Former Wallabies international James O'Connor's career at French club Toulon hangs in the balance after being arrested on suspicion of attempting to buy cocaine.
O'Connor spent the night in a French cell after both he and former All Blacks star Ali Williams were allegedly caught handing over cash to a drug dealer outside a nightclub in the French capital in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A judicial source said both players were drunk at the time of their arrest and were not carrying identification papers.
The source added that they were attempting to buy drugs worth about $200 and that the two sellers were also arrested.
O'Connor, 26, is off-contract at Toulon in July and had recently been attempting to negotiate a new contract with the club.
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But Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal said he would wait until he spoke to the Australian before making any further move on his future.
"I won't speak to him on Saturday," Boudjellal told AFP.
"It does seem as though there has been wrongdoing.
"But even when you kill someone you still have a hearing first. That is how it must be."
O'Connor played 44 Tests for Australia between 2008 and 2013, but had his contract torn up following a number of off-field indiscretions.
Meanwhile 35-year-old Williams has been suspended by his French club Racing 92 over the incident.
"It was decided to temporarily suspend Ali Williams," the club said in a statement.
"If the investigation confirmed the possession of cocaine and the transaction, it would not only be against the law but also a serious breach of our ethics."
